In this film, the titular character Cookie is meant to be a sort of host/commentator on another contained film, not unlike Mystery Science Theater.
The film being commentated on, Locked Away, is a fairly decent indie zombie film that I watched prior to watching this version. However, despite having some things to say about Locked Away, this review will focus on Cookie, and what he does and doesn't bring to the table (aside from, well, cookies).
Let's begin with the positives.
Cookie himself is characterized fairly well by his creator and actor Alan Maxson. I like the voice, and his "background story" is completely acceptable as well for this type of character. I think he could be a pretty successful venture for Alex Manson. Except for one glaring flaw.
Generally, with a commentator character like Cookie, the main draw is to watch these characters make fun of or "roast" a film. Mystery Science Theater did this by making fun of much older movies, because of which they could say pretty much whatever they wanted (not that they ever went too far, but they could have and it would have been fine).
Since Alan Maxson worked with Jason Morisette on Locked Away, and (I'm guessing) is on good terms with him, this was probably a fairly easy collaboration to get started. However, for those same reasons, I feel that Alan Maxson went a little too easy on the film.
He never truly disses Locked Away, instead making good natured jokes that are simply, well, TOO good natured. Some of it still made me chuckle, but there were plenty of silly effects in Locked Away (both graphically and sound based) that I thought could have been made fun of without stepping on any toes.
Overall, if Cookie does commentate on any other movies in the future, I think he should be a little harsher with his comedy. It doesn't have to be ruthless or anything like that, but I think Jason Morisette could have handled stronger jokes about his film.
The film being commentated on, Locked Away, is a fairly decent indie zombie film that I watched prior to watching this version. However, despite having some things to say about Locked Away, this review will focus on Cookie, and what he does and doesn't bring to the table (aside from, well, cookies).
Let's begin with the positives.
Cookie himself is characterized fairly well by his creator and actor Alan Maxson. I like the voice, and his "background story" is completely acceptable as well for this type of character. I think he could be a pretty successful venture for Alex Manson. Except for one glaring flaw.
Generally, with a commentator character like Cookie, the main draw is to watch these characters make fun of or "roast" a film. Mystery Science Theater did this by making fun of much older movies, because of which they could say pretty much whatever they wanted (not that they ever went too far, but they could have and it would have been fine).
Since Alan Maxson worked with Jason Morisette on Locked Away, and (I'm guessing) is on good terms with him, this was probably a fairly easy collaboration to get started. However, for those same reasons, I feel that Alan Maxson went a little too easy on the film.
He never truly disses Locked Away, instead making good natured jokes that are simply, well, TOO good natured. Some of it still made me chuckle, but there were plenty of silly effects in Locked Away (both graphically and sound based) that I thought could have been made fun of without stepping on any toes.
Overall, if Cookie does commentate on any other movies in the future, I think he should be a little harsher with his comedy. It doesn't have to be ruthless or anything like that, but I think Jason Morisette could have handled stronger jokes about his film.
